Vietnam's highest prosecutor's office is investigating the responsibility of prison superintendents in the escape of four detainees, one of whom later allegedly killed three people, Tuoi Tre newspaper has reported.

According to police records, on February 2, Tran Quoc Tuan and three others who were then in custody at the detention center of the Bien Hoa Town's police division pretended to have a fight, prompting superintendents to intervene.

They then attacked the supervisors with soap water mixed with chili powder before running away, the newspaper said.

Although police arrested two of them, Tuan and Nguyen Van Than managed to escape.

Following the case, leaders of the police division demoted an officer, dismissed another who was in charge of the center's security, and issued warnings to two superintendents.

Meanwhile, after his escape, Tuan is alleged to have killed and robbed three people, including police officer Le Thanh Tam in Cam My District, the Tuoi Tre report said.